Whole Wheat Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Is there such a thing as a grown-up cookie? If there is, these cookies certainly qualify. With the extra flavor of whole wheat flour, a toned-down sweetness and the 'adult' taste of semi-sweet chocolate, these cookies would be perfectly at home at an elegant dinner or cocktail party - events I am obviously never invited to. 

These cookies are subtly addictive; they may not give you the sugar rush of a molasses cookie or a cinnamon crisp, but these snacks are one you'll find yourself reaching for again and again. And, since they're whole wheat, you can tell yourself they're healthy! Done. 

Sandwich cookies are really one of my favorites to make and eat, obviously since you get two cookies at a time. But if you wanted to leave these as "open-face" sandwiches, you would get double the chocolate, which is alright in my book as well. 

Tip of the Day: If you like to be very precise in the amount of filling, then put the chocolate in a piping bag and pipe an even amount on each cookie before sandwiching. I'm totally lazy and I love these Wilton disposable piping bags - I use them all the time.

Recipe: (adapted from 101 Cookbooks)  
Makes about 30 sandwich cookies

½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 cup all purpose flour

2/3 cups whole wheat flour
2/3 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 - 2 tablespoons milk

turbinado sugar

4 - 6 ounces semi sweet chocolate

Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla and beat to combine. 

Add in the flours, baking soda and salt and stir in until just combined. If the dough is dry, add in the milk until it comes together. 

Divide the dough in two and wrap in plastic wrap, then chill in the fridge for 1 hour. 

Roll each piece of dough out to about 1/8" thick, and cut out 2-inch circles with a cutter. 

Sprinkle the cookies with the turbinado sugar, and bake on 350 F for 8 to 12 minutes until just starting to brown on the edges. 

When the cookies are cool, melt the chocolate until smooth, and sandwich each cookie together with about a teaspoon of chocolate. Use any remaining to pipe designs on top.